EX  LJI  1BFUS 


ALEXANDER 

1  GOLDSTEIN 


r 


ALEXANDER  GOLDSTEIN 


Lincoln 
and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 


LINCOLN 

AND 

THE    SLEEPING    SENTINEL 

THE  TRUE  STORY 


TOLD  BY 

L.    E.    CHITTENDEN 

REGISTER  OF  THE  TREASURY,  1861-65 

AND  AUTHOR  OF 

"RECOLLECTIONS  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN 
AND  HIS  ADMINISTRATION" 


WITH   PORTRAITS 


NEW  YORK  AND  LONDON 
HARPER  &  BROTHERS  PUBLISHERS 
MCMIX 


Copyright,  1 891,  1909,  by  HARPER   &   BROTHERS. 

^f«  r^z/j-  reserved. 
Published  January,  1909. 


Illustrations 


LINCOLN.  -  -  From     a     painting     by 

Howard    Pyle Frontispiece 

LINCOLN  IN  1857. — From  a  photograph 
in  the  collection  of  Charles  Carle- 
ton  Coffin Facing  p.  2O 

LINCOLN  AND  His  SON  THOMAS, 
KNOWN  AS  "TAD." — From  a  pho 
tograph  by  Brady "  30 

LINCOLN.  —  From  the  statue  by 
Augustus  St.  Gaudens,  at  Lincoln 
Park,  Chicago "  36 

LINCOLN  IN  1865. — From  a  photo 
graph  by  Rice 46 


773129 


Introduction 


any  attempt  at  bio 
graphical  details  or  an  apprecia 
tion,  a  few  chief  facts  in  Abraham 
Lincoln's  great  career  may  be 
helpfully  recalled  to  the  minds 
of  readers.  His  ancestors  were  Quakers  in 
Berks  County,  Pennsylvania*  His  parents, 
born  in  Virginia,  were  influenced  by  the 
current  of  migration  across  the  Alleghanies, 
and  were  carried  first  to  Kentucky  and 
afterward  to  Indiana* 

It  was  in  Hardin  County,  Kentucky,  that 
Abraham  Lincoln  was  born,  February  J2, 
J809,  the    child  of  these  humble  settlers* 
7 


Introduction 


Compared  with  the  opportunities  of  the 
present-day  boy,  his  chances  seemed  des 
perate  indeed*  His  attendance  at  a  regular 
•school  covered  hardly  more  than  a  year* 
Nearly  all  the  education  which,  among  other 
gifts,  enriched  him  with  such  a  mastery  of 
the  English  tongue  he  acquired  painfully 
by  himself*  It  was  a  question  of  necessities, 
of  aiding  to  wrest  a  livelihood  from  a  new 
country  that  confronted  the  boy,  and  so  we 
find  him  at  work,  and  at  nineteen  entering 
a  larger  world  of  practical  affairs  by  helping 
to  guide  a  flat-boat  down  the  Mississippi  to 
New  Orleans*  What  he  had  to  do  was  done 
so  faithfully  that  his  employer  promoted 
him  to  be  a  clerk,  and  gave  him  charge  of 
a  store  and  mill  at  New  Salem,  Illinois* 

The  first  public  recognition  of  Lincoln's 

character  came  in  his  election  as  captain  of 

a  company  in  the  war  against  Black  Hawk 

and  his  band  of  rebellious  Indians  in  1832* 

8 


Introduction 


This  was  followed  by  his  appointment  as 
postmaster  at  New  Salem,  Illinois,  which 
gave  him  better  opportunities  for  study — 
opportunities  so  well  improved  that  he  was 
admitted  to  practise  as  a  lawyer  in  J836. 
He  began  his  professional  career  at  Spring 
field,  Illinois.  Law  and  politics  were  almost 
inseparable,  and  as  Lincoln  rose  in  his  pro 
fession,  and  became  noted  for  the  shrewd 
common -sense  and  the  dry  humor  of  his 
speeches  at  public  meetings,  he  gained  more 
and  more  prominence  as  a  leading  member 
of  the  old  Whig  party  in  Illinois* 

The  next  steps  were  natural  ones — re 
peated  elections  to  the  Legislature  of 
Illinois,  and  then  a  nomination  for  Con 
gress,  which  led  to  his  election  in  1847* 
At  Washington  he  made  his  mark  partic 
ularly  as  an  opponent  of  slavery*  Then 
followed,  in  J858,  his  selection  as  a  can 
didate  for  the  United  States  Senate 
9 


Introduction 


against  Stephen  A*  Douglas,  which  in 
volved  a  series  of  historic  debates  over  the 
slavery  question.  The  popular  voice  was  for 
Lincoln,  but  the  Legislature  elected  Doug 
las.  From  this  contest  Lincoln  emerged 
with  a  standing  which  finally  brought  to 
him  the  Republican  nomination  for  the 
presidency  over  William  H*  Seward  in  the 
stormy  days  of  I860* 

Lincoln's  great  career  as  the  sixteenth 
President  of  the  United  States,  from  J86f 
to  1865,  is  not  to  be  entered  upon  in  this 
outline  of  facts*  His  superhuman  part  in 
preserving  the  Union,  his  Proclamation  of 
Emancipation  in  J863,  his  second  election 
in  J864,  and  his  assassination  at  the  close 
of  the  Civil  War  are  among  our  great  his 
torical  landmarks*  It  was  on  April  J5, 
J865,  that  death  placed  him  beside  Wash 
ington  in  the  Pantheon  of  American  his 
tory* 

JO 


Introduction 


These  bare  facts  of  President  Lincoln's 
life  are  set  down  here  as  an  outline  record 
to  accompany  the  true  story  of  "  Lincoln 
and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel/'  which  is  now 
published  in  a  separate  book  for  the  first 
time*  Brief  as  this  summary  is,  it  is  dif 
fuse  in  comparison  with  the  autobiography 
written  by  Lincoln  in  1857,  which  reads: 

"Born,  February  J2,  1809,  in  Hardin 
County,  Kentucky* 

"  Education  defective* 

44  Profession  a  lawyer* 

"  Have  been  a  captain  of  volunteers  in 
the  Black  Hawk  War* 

44  Postmaster  at  a  very  small  office;  four 
times  a  member  of  the  Illinois  Legislature, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  lower  House  of 
Congress." 

Had  Lincoln  finished  his  autobiography 
in  1865  he  would  have  written  with  the 
same  modest  reticence* 
U 


Introduction 


For  four  years,  while  Register  of  the 
Treasury,  L*  E.  Chittenden  was  in  close 
personal  and  official  relations  with  Presi 
dent  Lincoln*  In  his  Recollections  he  has 
emphasized  certain  qualities  which  find  so 
beautiful  an  expression  in  this  story* 

"Lincoln's  heart  was  as  tender  as  ever 
beat  in  a  human  breast,"  Mr*  Chittenden 
has  written*  "  Those  who  saw  him  standing 
by  the  coffins  of  young  Ellsworth  and  the 
eloquent  Baker  knew  how  he  loved  his 
friends — how  he  sorrowed  over  their  loss* 
In  his  companionship  with  his  boys,  and 
particularly  with  the  younger,  there  was  a 
most  touching  picture  of  parental  affection; 
in  his  emotion  when  he  lost  them,  a  grief 
too  sacred  to  be  further  exposed*  4  He 
could  not  deny  a  pardon  or  a  respite  to  a 
soldier  condemned  to  die  for  a  crime  which 
did  not  involve  depravity  if  he  were  to 

try/  said  an  old  army  officer*    He  shrank 
J2 


Introduction 


from  the  confirmation  of  a  sentence  of  death 
in  such  a  case  as  if  it  were  a  murder  by  his 
hand*  4  They  say  that  I  destroy  all  dis 
cipline  and  am  cruel  to  the  army  when  I 
will  not  let  them  shoot  a  soldier  now  and 
then/  he  said.  '  But  I  cannot  see  it.  If 
God  wanted  me  to  see  it  he  would  let  me 
know  it,  and  until  he  does  I  shall  go  on 
pardoning  and  being  cruel  to  the  end/ 
An  old  friend  called  by  appointment*  and 
found  him  with  a  pile  of  records  of  courts- 
martial  before  him  for  approval*  '  Go 
away*  SwettF  he  exclaimed,  with  intense 
impatience*  '  To-morrow  is  butchering  day, 
and  I  will  not  be  interrupted  until  I  have 
found  excuses  for  saving  the  lives  of  these 
poor  fellows!'  Many  pages  might  be  filled 
with  authentic  illustrations  of  his  tender 
ness  and  mercy,  for  they  were  prominent  in 
his  official  life*  Three  times  I  assisted  in 
procuring  their  exercise,  each  to  the  saving 
J3 


Introduction 


of  a  soldier,  and  each  time  he  shared  our 
own  delight  over  our  success,  though  he 
knew  not  how  his  face  shone  when  he  felt 
that  he  had  spared  a  human  life." 

The  main  fact  of  the  story  published  in 
this  book  has  been  told  with  varying  de 
tails  in  many  versions*  It  is  related  here 
as  it  has  been  set  down  by  one  who  bore  an 
active  part*  Mr*  Chittenden's  Recollections 
of  President  Lincoln  and  His  Administration 
has  taken  rank  as  one  of  the  most  valuable 
of  the  volumes  of  personal  reminiscence  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  in  the  war  period*  Mr* 
Chittenden's  narrative  of  "  The  Sleeping 
Sentinel "  represents  the  truth  of  history* 


Lincoln 
and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 


HE  truth  is  always  and  every 
where  attractive.  The  child 
loves,  and  never  outgrows  its 
love,  for  a  real  true  story.  The 
story  of  this  young  soldier,  as  it 
was  presented  to  me,  so  touchingly  re 
veals  some  of  the  kindlier  qualities  of  the 
President's  character  that  it  seldom  fails 
to  charm  those  to  whom  it  is  related.  I 
shall  give  its  facts  as  I  understood  them, 
and  I  think  I  can  guarantee  their  general 
accuracy. 

On  a  dark  September  morning  in  J86J, 
15 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

when  I  reached  my  office  I  found  waiting 
there  a  party  of  soldiers,  none  of  whom  I 
personally  knew*  They  were  greatly  ex 
cited,  all  speaking  at  the  same  time,  and 
consequently  unintelligible.  One  of  them 
wore  the  bars  of  a  captain*  I  said  to  them 
pleasantly: "  Boys,  I  cannot  understand  you* 
Pray,  let  your  captain  say  what  you  want 
and  what  I  can  do  for  you*"  They  com 
plied,  and  the  captain  put  me  in  possession 
of  the  following  facts: 

They  belonged  to  the  Third  Vermont 
Regiment,  raised,  with  the  exception  of  one 
company,  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Green 
Mountains,  and  mustered  into  service  while 
the  battle  of  Bull  Run  was  progressing* 
They  were  immediately  sent  to  Washington, 
and  since  their  arrival,  during  the  last  days 
of  July,  had  been  stationed  at  the  Chain 
Bridge,  some  three  miles  above  Georgetown. 

Company  K,  to  which  most  of  them  be- 
16 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

longed,  was  largely  made  up  of  farmer 
boys,  many  of  them  still  in  their  minority* 
The  sterile  flanks  of  the  mountains  of 
Vermont  have,  to  some  extent,  been  aban 
doned  for  the  more  fertile  regions  of  the 
West,  and  are  now  open  to  immigration  from 
the  more  barren  soils  of  Scandinavia  and  the 
Alps*  Fifty  years  ago  these  Vermont  moan- 
tains  reared  men  who  have  since  left  their 
impress  upon  the  enterprise  of  the  world* 
The  hard  conditions  of  life  in  these  moun 
tains  then  required  the  most  unbroken  reg 
ularity  in  the  continuous  struggle  for  ex 
istence*  To  rise  and  retire  with  the  sun, 
working  through  all  the  hours  of  daylight, 
sleeping  through  all  the  hours  of  night,  was 
the  universal  rule*  Such  industry,  practised 
from  childhood,  united  to  a  thrift  and 
economy  no  longer  known  in  the  republic, 
enabled  the  Vermonter  to  pay  his  taxes 
and  train  up  his  family  in  obedience  to  the 
17 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

laws  of  God  and  his  country.  Nowhere 
under  the  sun  were  charity,  benevolence, 
mutual  help,  and  similar  virtues  more 
finely  developed  or  universally  practised 
than  among  these  hard-handed,  kind-heart 
ed  mountaineers* 

The  story  which  I  extracted  from  the 
"  boys  "  was,  in  substance,  this :  William 
Scott,  one  of  these  mountain  boys,  just  of 
age,  had  enlisted  in  Company  K.  Accus 
tomed  to  his  regular  sound  and  healthy 
sleep,  not  yet  inured  to  the  life  of  the  camp, 
he  had  volunteered  to  take  the  place  of  a 
sick  comrade  who  had  been  detailed  for 
picket  duty,  and  had  passed  the  night  as  a 
sentinel  on  guard.  The  next  day  he  was 
himself  detailed  for  the  same  duty,  and 
undertook  its  performance.  But  he  found 
it  impossible  to  keep  awake  for  two  nights 
in  succession,  and  had  been  found  by  the 
relief  sound  asleep  on  his  post.  For  this 
18 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

offence  he  had  been  tried  by  a  court-martial, 
found  guilty,  and  sentenced  to  be  shot  with 
in  twenty-four  hours  after  his  trial,  and  on 
the  second  morning  after  his  offence  was 
committed* 

Scott's  comrades  had  set  about  saving 
him  in  a  characteristic  way*  They  had 
called  a  meeting,  appointed  a  committee, 
with  power  to  use  all  the  resources  of  the 
regiment  in  his  behalf*  Strangers  in  Wash 
ington,  the  committee  had  resolved  to  call 
on  me  for  advice,  because  I  was  a  Vermonter, 
and  they  had  already  marched  from  the 
camp  to  my  office  since  daylight  that 
morning* 

The  captain  took  all  the  blame  from 
Scott  upon  himself*  Scott's  mother  op 
posed  his  enlistment  on  the  ground  of  his 
inexperience,  and  had  only  consented  on 
the  captain's  promise  to  look  after  him  as 
if  he  were  his  own  son*  This  he  had  wholly 
19 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

failed  to  do.  He  mast  have  been  asleep  or 
stupid  himself,  he  said,  when  he  paid  no 
attention  to  the  boy's  statement  that  he 
had  fallen  asleep  during  the  day,  and  feared 
he  could  not  keep  awake  the  second  night 
on  picket*  Instead  of  sending  some  one,  or 
going  himself  in  Scott's  place,  as  he  should, 
he  had  let  him  go  to  his  death.  He  alone 
was  guilty—"  if  any  one  ought  to  be  shot, 
I  am  the  fellow,  and  everybody  at  home 
would  have  the  right  to  say  so.  There  must 
be  some  way  to  save  him,  Judge!"  (They 
all  called  me  Judge.)  "  He  is  as  good  a  boy 
as  there  is  in  the  army,  and  he  ain't  to  blame. 
You  will  help  us,  now,  won't  you?"  he  said, 
almost  with  tears. 

The  other  members  of  the  committee  had 
a  definite  if  not  a  practicable  plan.  They 
insisted  that  Scott  had  not  been  tried,  and 
gave  this  account  of  the  proceeding.  He 

was  asked  what  he  had  to  say  to  the  charge, 
20 


LINCOLN    IN     1857 
From  a  photograph  in  the  collection  of  Charles  Carleton  Coffin 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

and  said  he  would  tell  them  just  how  it  all 
happened*  He  had  never  been  up  all  night 
that  he  remembered*  He  was  "all  beat 
out "  by  the  night  before*  and  knew  he 
should  have  a  hard  fight  to  keep  awake; 
he  thought  of  hiring  one  of  the  boys  to  go 
in  his  place,  but  they  might  think  he  was 
afraid  to  do  his  duty,  and  he  decided  to 
"chance  it*"  Twice  he  went  to  sleep  and 
woke  himself  while  he  was  marching,  and 
then — he  could  not  tell  anything  about  it — 
all  he  knew  was  that  he  was  sound  asleep 
when  the  guard  came*  It  was  very  wrong, 
he  knew*  He  wanted  to  be  a  good  soldier 
and  do  all  his  duty*  What  else  did  he  en 
list  for?  They  could  shoot  him,  and  per 
haps  they  ought  to,  but  he  could  not  have 
tried  harder;  and  if  he  was  in  the  same 
place  again  he  could  no  more  help  going 
to  sleep  than  he  could  fly* 

One  must  have  been  made  of  sterner 
2J 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

staff  than  I  was  not  to  be  touched  by  the 
earnest  manner  with  which  these  men  of 
fered  to  devote  even  their  farms  to  the  aid 
of  their  comrade*  The  captain  and  the 
others  had  no  need  of  words  to  express  their 
emotions*  I  saw  that  the  situation  was 
surrounded  by  difficulties  of  which  they 
knew  nothing*  They  had  subscribed  a  sum 
of  money  to  pay  counsel*  and  offered  to 
pledge  their  credit  to  any  amount  necessary 
to  secure  him  a  fair  trial* 

44  Put  up  your  money/'  I  said*  "  It  will 
be  long  after  this  when  one  of  my  name 
takes  money  for  helping  a  Vermont  soldier* 
I  know  facts  which  touch  this  case  of  which 
you  know  nothing*  I  fear  that  nothing 
effectual  can  be  done  for  your  comrade* 
The  courts  and  lawyers  can  do  nothing*  I 
fear  that  we  can  do  no  more;  but  we  can 
try." 

I  must  digress  here  to  say  that  the  Chain 
22 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

Bridge  across  the  Potomac  was  one  of  the 
positions  upon  which  the  safety  of  Wash 
ington  depended.  The  Confederates  had 
fortified  the  approach  to  it  on  the  Virginia 
side,  and  the  Federals  on  the  hills  of  Mary 
land  opposite*  Here,  for  months,  the  op 
posing  forces  had  confronted  each  other. 
There  had  been  no  fighting;  the  men.  and 
even  the  officers,  had  gradually  contracted 
an  intimacy,  and,  having  nothing  better  to 
do,  had  swapped  stories  and  other  property 
until  they  had  come  to  live  upon  the  footing 
of  good  neighbors  rather  than  mortal  ene 
mies.  This  relation  was  equally  inconsistent 
with  the  safety  of  Washington  and  the  stern 
discipline  of  war*  Its  discovery  had  excited 
alarm,  and  immediate  measures  were  taken 
to  break  it  up.  General  W.  F.  Smith, 
better  known  as  "Baldy"  Smith,  had 
been  appointed  colonel  of  the  Third  Ver 
mont  Regiment,  placed  in  command  of 
23 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

the  post,  and  undertook  to  correct  the  ir 
regularity. 

General  Smith,  a  Vermonter  by  birtht  a 
West-Pointer  by  education,  was  a  soldier 
from  spur  to  crown.  Possibly  he  had  nat 
ural  sympathies,  but  they  were  so  subor 
dinated  to  the  demands  of  his  profession 
that  they  might  as  well  not  have  existed. 
He  regarded  a  soldier  as  so  much  valuable 
material,  to  be  used  with  economy,  like 
powder  and  lead,  to  the  best  advantage. 
The  soldier  was  not  worth  much  to  him  until 
his  individuality  was  suppressed  and  con 
verted  into  the  unit  of  an  army*  He  must 
be  taught  obedience;  discipline  must  never 
be  relaxed.  In  the  demoralization  which 
existed  at  the  Chain  Bridge,  in  his  opinion, 
the  occasional  execution  of  a  soldier  would 
tend  to  enforce  discipline,  and  in  the  end 
promote  economy  of  life.  He  had  issued 
orders  declaring  the  penalty  of  death  for 
24 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

military  offences,  among  others  that  of  a 
sentinel  sleeping  upon  his  post*  His  orders 
were  made  to  be  obeyed.  Scott  was,  appa 
rently,  their  first  victim.  It  went  without 
saying  that  any  appeal  in  his  behalf  to 
General  Smith  would  lead  to  nothing  but 
loss  of  time. 


II 


[HE  more  I  reflected  upon  what 
I  was  to  do,  the  more  hopeless 
the  case  appeared*    Thought  was 
useless*    I  must   act   upon   im 
pulse  or  I  should  not  act  at  all. 
Come/'  I  said,  "there  is  only  one  man 
on   earth   who    can    save    your   comrade* 
Fortunately,  he  is  the  best  man  on  the  con 
tinent*    We  will  go  to  President  Lincoln*" 
I  went  swiftly  out  of  the  Treasury  over 
to  the  White  House*  and  up  the  stairway 
to  the  little  office  where  the  President  was 
writing*    The  boys  followed  in  a  procession* 
I  did  not  give  the  thought  time  to  get  any 
hold  on  me  that  I,  an  officer  of  the  govern 
ment,  was  committing  an  impropriety  in 
26 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

thus  rushing  a  matter  upon  the  President's 
attention*  The  President  was  the  first  to 
speak. 

"What  is  this?"  he  asked  "An  ex 
pedition  to  kidnap  somebody,  or  to  get  an 
other  brigadier  appointed,  or  for  a  furlough 
to  go  home  to  vote?  I  cannot  do  it,  gentle 
men.  Brigadiers  are  thicker  than  drum-ma 
jors,  and  I  couldn't  get  a  furlough  for  my 
self  if  I  asked  it  from  the  War  Department." 

There  was  hope  in  the  tone  in  which  he 
spoke.  I  went  straight  to  my  point.  "  Mr. 
President,"  I  said,  "  these  men  want  noth 
ing  for  themselves.  They  are  Green  Moun 
tain  boys  of  the  Third  Vermont,  who  have 
come  to  stay  as  long  as  you  need  good 
soldiers.  They  don't  want  promotion  until 
they  earn  it.  But  they  do  want  something 
that  you  alone  can  give  them — the  life  of  a 
comrade." 

"What  has  he  done?"  asked  the  Presi- 
27 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

dent.  "  You  Vermonters  are  not  a  bad  lot, 
generally*  Has  he  committed  murder  or 
mutiny,  or  what  other  felony?" 

"  Tell  him,"  I  whispered  to  the  captain* 

44 1  cannot!  I  cannot!  I  should  stammer 
like  a  fool!  You  can  do  it  better!" 

"  Captain/'  I  said,  pushing  him  forward, 
44  Scott's  life  depends  on  you.  You  must 
tell  the  President  the  story*  I  only  know 
it  from  hearsay*" 

He  commenced  like  the  man  by  the  Sea 
of  Galilee,  who  had  an  impediment  in  his 
speech;  but  very  soon  the  string  of  his 
tongue  was  loosened,  and  he  spoke  plain* 
He  began  to  word-paint  a  picture  with  the 
hand  of  a  master*  As  the  words  burst  from 
his  lips  they  stirred  my  own  blood*  He  gave 
a  graphic  account  of  the  whole  story,  and 
ended  by  saying:  "  He  is  as  brave  a  boy  as 
there  is  in  your  army,  sir*  Scott  is  no 
coward*  Our  mountains  breed  no  cowards. 
28 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

They  are  the  homes  of  thirty  thousand  men 
who  voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln*  They 
will  not  be  able  to  see  that  the  best  thing  to 
be  done  with  William  Scott  will  be  to  shoot 
him  like  a  traitor  and  bury  him  like  a  dog! 
Oh,  Mr*  Lincoln,  can  you?" 

44  No,  I  can't!"  exclaimed  the  President. 
It  was  one  of  the  moments  when  his  coun 
tenance  became  such  a  remarkable  study* 
It  had  become  very  earnest  as  the  captain 
rose  with  his  subject;  then  it  took  on  that 
melancholy  expression  which,  later  in  his 
life,  became  so  infinitely  touching.  I 
thought  I  could  detect  a  mist  in  the  deep 
cavities  of  his  eyes*  Then,  in  a  flash,  there 
was  a  total  change*  He  smiled,  and  finally 
broke  into  a  hearty  laugh,  as  he  asked  me: 

44  Do  your  Green  Mountain  boys  fight  as 
well  as  they  talk?  If  they  do,  I  don't  won 
der  at  the  legends  about  Ethan  Allen." 
Then  his  face  softened  as  he  said :  "  But 
29 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

what  can  I  do?  What  do  you  expect  me  to 
do?  As  you  know,  I  have  not  much  in 
fluence  with  the  departments?" 

44 1  have  not  thought  the  matter  out,"  I 
said.  "  I  feel  a  deep  interest  in  saving 
young  Scott's  life*  I  think  I  knew  the  boy's 
father.  It  is  useless  to  apply  to  General 
Smith.  An  application  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  would  only  be  referred  to  General  Smith. 
The  only  thing  to  be  done  was  to  apply  to 
you*  It  seems  to  me  that  if  you  would 
sign  an  order  suspending  Scott's  execution 
until  his  friends  can  have  his  case  examined, 
I  might  carry  it  to  the  War  Department, 
and  so  insure  the  delivery  of  the  order  to 
General  Smith  to-day  through  the  regular 
channels  of  the  War  Office." 

"  No!    I  do  not  think  that  course  would 

be  safe.    You  do  not  know  these  officers 

of  the  regular  army.    They  are  a  law  unto 

themselves.    They  sincerely  think  that  it  is 

30 


LINCOLN    AND    HIS    SON    THOMAS,    KNOWN    AS    "  TAD  " 
From  a  photograph  by  Brady 


Lincoln   and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

good  policy  occasionally  to  shoot  a  soldier, 
I  can  see  itt  where  a  soldier  deserts  or  com 
mits  a  crime,  but  I  cannot  in  such  a  case  as 
Scott's*  They  say  that  I  am  always  inter 
fering  with  the  discipline  of  the  army  and 
being  cruel  to  the  soldiers*  Well,  I  can't 
help  itt  so  I  shall  have  to  go  right  on  doing 
wrong*  I  do  not  think  an  honest,  brave 
soldier,  conscious  of  no  crime  bat  sleeping 
when  he  was  weary,  ought  to  be  shot  or 
hung*  The  country  has  better  uses  for 
him*" 

44  Captain/'  continued  the  President,"y°ur 
boy  shall  not  be  shot— that  is,  not  to-mor 
row,  nor  until  I  know  more  about  his  case*" 
To  me  he  said:  "  I  will  have  to  attend  to  this 
matter  myself*  I  have  for  some  time  in 
tended  to  go  up  to  the  Chain  Bridge*  I  will 
do  so  to-day*  I  shall  then  know  that  there 
is  no  mistake  in  suspending  the  execution*" 

I  remarked  that  he  was  undertaking  a 
31 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

burden  which  we  had  no  right  to  impose; 
that  it  was  asking  too  much  of  the  Presi 
dent  in  behalf  of  a  private  soldier* 

"  Scott's  life  is  as  valuable  to  him  as  that 
of  any  person  in  the  land,"  he  said.  '*  You 
remember  the  remark  of  a  Scotchman  about 
the  head  of  a  nobleman  who  was  decapitated* 
4  It  was  a  small  matter  of  a  head*  but  it 
was  valuable  to  him.  poor  fellow,  for  it  was 
the  only  one  he  had*' ' 

I  saw  that  remonstrance  was  vain*  I 
suppressed  the  rising  gratitude  of  the  sol 
diers*  and  we  took  our  leave.  Two  mem 
bers  of  "  the  committee "  remained  to 
watch  events  in  the  city,  while  the  others 
returned  to  carry  the  news  of  their  success 
to  Scott  and  to  the  camp.  Later  in  the  day 
the  two  members  reported  that  the  Presi 
dent  had  started  in  the  direction  of  the 
camp;  that  their  work  here  was  ended*  and 

they  proposed  to  return  to  their  quarters* 
32 


Ill 


ITHIN  a  day  or  two  the  news 
papers  reported  that  a  soldier, 
sentenced  to  be  shot  for  sleeping 
on  his  post,  had  been  pardoned 
by  the  President  and  returned 
to  his  regiment*  Other  duties  pressed  me, 
and  it  was  December  before  I  heard  any 
thing  further  from  Scott*  Then  another 
elderly  soldier  of  the  same  company*  whose 
health  had  failed,  and  who  was  arranging 
for  his  own  discharge,  called  upon  me,  and 
I  made  inquiry  about  Scott*  The  soldier 
gave  an  enthusiastic  account  of  him*  He 
was  in  splendid  health,  was  very  athletic, 
popular  with  everybody,  and  had  the  rep 
utation  of  being  the  best  all-around  soldier 
33 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

in  the  company,  if  not  in  the  regiment. 
His  mate  was  the  elderly  soldier  who  had 
visited  me  with  the  party  in  September, 
who  would  be  able  to  tell  me  all  about  him. 
To  him  I  sent  a  message,  asking  him  to  see 
me  when  he  was  next  in  the  city.  His  name 
was  Ellis  or  Evans. 

Not  long  afterward  he  called  at  my  office, 
and,  as  his  leave  permitted,  I  kept  him  over 
night  at  my  house,  and  gathered  from  him 
the  following  facts  about  Scott.  He  said 
that,  as  we  supposed,  the  President  went  to 
the  camp,  had  a  long  conversation  with 
Scott,  at  the  end  of  which  he  was  sent  back 
to  his  company  a  free  man.  The  President 
had  given  him  a  paper,  which  he  preserved 
very  carefully,  which  was  supposed  to  be  his 
discharge  from  the  sentence.  A  regular 
order  for  his  pardon  had  been  read  in 
the  presence  of  the  regiment,  signed  by 
General  McClellan,  but  every  one  knew 
34 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

that  his  life  had  been  saved  by  the  Pres 
ident* 

From  that  day  Scott  was  the  most  in 
dustrious  man  in  the  company*  He  was 
always  at  work*  generally  helping  some 
other  soldier*  His  arms  and  his  dress  were 
neat  and  cleanly;  he  took  charge  of  policing 
the  company's  quarters;  was  never  absent 
at  roll-call*  unless  he  was  sent  away*  and 
always  on  hand  if  there  was  any  work  to  be 
done*  He  was  very  strong,  and  practised 
feats  of  strength  until  he  could  pick  up  a 
man  lying  on  the  ground  and  carry  him 
away  on  his  shoulders*  He  was  of  great  use 
in  the  hospital,  and  in  all  the  serious  cases 
sought  employment  as  a  nurse*  because  it 
trained  him  in  night-work  and  keeping 
awake  at  night*  He  soon  attracted  at 
tention*  He  was  offered  promotion,  which, 
for  some  reason,  he  declined* 

It  was  a  long  time  before  he  would  speak 
35 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

of  his  interview  with  Mr.  Lincoln*  One 
night,  when  he  had  received  a  long  letter 
from  home,  Scott  opened  his  heart  and  told 
Evans  the  story. 

Scott  said:  "  The  President  was  the  kind 
est  man  I  had  ever  seen;  I  knew  him  at  once 
by  a  Lincoln  medal  I  had  long  worn*  I  was 
scared  at  first,  for  I  had  never  before  talked 
with  a  great  man*  But  Mr.  Lincoln  was  so 
easy  with  me,  so  gentle,  that  I  soon  forgot 
my  fright*  He  asked  me  all  about  the 
people  at  home,  the  neighbors,  the  farm, 
and  where  I  went  to  school,  and  who  my 
school-mates  were*  Then  he  asked  me  about 
mother,  and  how  she  looked,  and  I  was  glad 
I  could  take  her  photograph  from  my  bosom 
and  show  it  to  him*  He  said  how  thankful 
I  ought  to  be  that  my  mother  still  lived,  and 
how,  if  he  was  in  my  place,  he  would  try 
to  make  her  a  proud  mother,  and  never 
cause  her  a  sorrow  or  a  tear*  I  cannot 
36 


LINCOLN 

From  the  statue  by  Augustus  St.  Gaudens,  at  Lincoln  Park,  Chicago 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

remember  it  all,  but  every  word  was  so 
kind. 

44  He  had  said  nothing  yet  about  that 
dreadful  next  morning.  I  thought  it  must  be 
that  he  was  so  kind-hearted  that  he  didn't 
like  to  speak  of  it*  But  why  did  he  say  so 
much  about  my  mother,  and  my  not  causing 
her  a  sorrow  or  a  tear,  when  I  knew  that  I 
must  die  the  next  morning?  But  I  sup 
posed  that  was  something  that  would  have 
to  go  unexplained,  and  so  I  determined  to 
brace  up  and  tell  him  that  I  did  not  feel  a 
bit  guilty,  and  ask  him  wouldn't  he  fix  it 
so  that  the  firing-party  would  not  be  from 
our  regiment!  That  was  going  to  be  the 
hardest  of  all — to  die  by  the  hands  of  my 
comrades*  Just  as  I  was  going  to  ask  him 
this  favor  he  stood  up,  and  he  says  to  me: 
4  My  boy,  stand  up  here  and  look  me  in  the 
face/  I  did  as  he  bade  me*  'My  boy/ 
he  said,  *  you  are  not  going  to  be  shot  to- 
37 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

morrow.  I  believe  you  when  you  tell  me 
that  you  could  not  keep  awake*  I  am  going 
to  trust  you.  and  send  you  back  to  your 
regiment*  But  I  have  been  put  to  a  good 
deal  of  trouble  on  your  account*  I  have 
had  to  come  up  here  from  Washington  when 
I  have  got  a  great  deal  to  do;  and  what  I 
want  to  know  is*  how  you  are  going  to  pay 
my  bill?'  There  was  a  big  lump  in  my 
throat;  I  could  scarcely  speak*  I  had  ex 
pected  to  die*  you  see*  and  had  kind  of  got 
used  to  thinking  that  way*  To  have  it  all 
changed  in  a  minute!  But  I  got  it  crowded 
down*  and  managed  to  say*  *  I  am  grateful. 
Mr*  Lincoln!  I  hope  I  am  as  grateful  as 
ever  a  man  can  be  to  you  for  saving  my  life* 
But  it  comes  upon  me  sudden  and  unex 
pected  like*  I  didn't  lay  out  for  it  at  all* 
But  there  is  some  way  to  pay  you*  and  I  will 
find  it  after  a  little*  There  is  the  bounty  in 
the  savings-bank*  I  guess  we  could  borrow 
38 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

some  money  on  the  mortgage  of  the  farm. 
There  was  my  pay,  which  was  something, 
and  if  he  would  wait  until  pay-day  I  was 
sure  the  boys  would  help,  so  I  thought  we 
could  make  it  up,  if  it  wasn't  more  than 
five  or  six  hundred  dollars/  4  But  it  is  a 
great  deal  more  than  that/  he  said*  Then 
I  said  I  didn't  just  see  how,  but  I  was  sure 
I  would  find  some  way — if  I  lived* 

"  Then  Mr*  Lincoln  put  his  hands  on  my 
shoulders  and  looked  into  my  face  as  if  he 
was  sorry,  and  said :  4  My  boy,  my  bill  is  a 
very  large  one*  Your  friends  cannot  pay 
it,  nor  your  bounty,  nor  the  farm,  nor  all 
your  comrades!  There  is  only  one  man  in 
all  the  world  who  can  pay  it,  and  his  name 
is  William  Scottl  If  from  this  day  William 
Scott  does  his  duty,  so  that,  if  I  was  there 
when  he  comes  to  die,  he  can  look  me  in  the 
face  as  he  does  now,  and  say,  'I  have  kept 
my  promise,  and  I  have  done  my  duty  as  a 
39 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

soldier/  then  my  debt  will  be  paid*  Will 
you  make  that  promise  and  try  to  keep 
it?' 

44 1  said  I  would  make  the  promise,  and, 
with  God's  help,  I  would  keep  it.  I  could 
not  say  any  more.  I  wanted  to  tell  him 
how  hard  I  would  try  to  do  all  he  wanted; 
but  the  words  would  not  come,  so  I  had  to 
let  it  all  go  unsaid.  He  went  away,  out  of 
my  sight  forever.  I  know  I  shall  never  see 
him  again;  but  may  God  forget  me  if  I  ever 
forget  his  kind  words  or  my  promise." 

This  was  the  end  of  the  story  of  Evans, 
who  got  his  discharge,  and  went  home  at 
the  close  of  the  year.  I  heard  from  Scott 
occasionally  afterward.  He  was  gaining 
a  wonderful  reputation  as  an  athlete.  He 
was  the  strongest  man  in  the  regiment.  The 
regiment  was  engaged  in  two  or  three  re- 
connoissances  in  force,  in  which  he  per 
formed  the  most  exposed  service  with  sin- 
40 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

gular  bravery*  If  any  man  was  in  trouble, 
Scott  was  his  good  Samaritan;  if  any 
soldier  was  sick,  Scott  was  his  nurse*  He 
was  ready  to  volunteer  for  any  extra  ser 
vice  or  labor — he  had  done  some  difficult 
and  useful  scouting*  He  still  refused  pro 
motion,  saying  that  he  had  done  nothing 
worthy  of  it*  The  final  result  was  that  he 
was  the  general  favorite  of  all  his  comrades, 
the  most  popular  man  in  the  regiment,  and 
modest,  unassuming,  and  unspoiled  by  his 
success* 


IV 


I  HE  next  scene  m  this  drama  opens 
on  the  Peninsula,  between  the 
York  and  the  James  rivers,  in 
March,  J862*  The  sluggish  War 
wick  River  runs  from  its  source, 
near  Yorktown,  across  the  Peninsula  to 
its  discharge*  It  formed  at  that  time  a 
line  of  defence,  which  had  been  forti 
fied  by  General  Magruder,  and  was  held 
by  him  with  a  force  of  some  twelve  thou 
sand  Confederates*  Yorktown  was  an  im 
portant  position  to  the  Confederates* 

On  April  J5th   the  division  of   General 

Smith  was  ordered  to  stop  the   enemy's 

work  on  the  intrenchments  at  Lee's  Mills, 

the    strongest    position    on    the    Warwick 

42 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

River*  His  force  consisted  of  the  Vermont 
brigade  of  five  regiments  and  three  bat 
teries  of  artillery.  After  a  lively  skirmish, 
which  occupied  the  greater  part  of  the  fore 
noon,  this  order  was  executed,  and  should 
have  ended  the  movement* 

But  about  noon  General  McClellan  with 
his  staff,  including  the  French  princes,  came 
upon  the  scene,  and  ordered  General  Smith 
to  assault  and  capture  the  rebel  works  on 
the  opposite  bank*  Some  discretion  was 
given  to  General  Smith,  who  was  directed 
not  to  bring  on  a  general  engagement,  but 
to  withdraw  his  men  if  he  found  the  de 
fence  too  strong  to  be  overcome*  This  dis 
cretion  cost  many  lives  when  the  moment 
came  for  its  exercise* 

General  Smith  disposed  his  forces  for  the 

assault,   which   was   made   by   Companies 

D,  E,  F,  and  K  of  the  Third  Vermont 

Regiment,  covered  by  the  artillery,  with  the 

43 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

Vermont  brigade  in  reserve*  About  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  charge  was 
ordered*  Unclasping  their  belts  and  hold 
ing  their  guns  and  cartridge-boxes  above 
their  heads,  the  Vermonters  dashed  into  and 
across  the  stream  at  Dam  Number  One* 
the  strongest  position  in  the  Confederate 
line*  and  cleared  out  the  rifle-pits*  But  the 
earthworks  were  held  by  an  overwhelming 
force  of  rebels*  and  proved  impregnable. 
After  a  dashing  attack  upon  them  the  Ver 
monters  were  repulsed*  and  were  ordered 
to  retire  across  the  river*  They  retreated 
under  a  heavy  fire*  leaving  nearly  half  their 
number  dead  or  wounded  in  the  river  and 
on  the  opposite  shore. 

Every  member  of  these  four  companies 
was  a  brave  man.  But  all  the  eye-witnesses 
agreed  that  among  those  who  in  this,  their 
first  hard  battle,  faced  death  without 
blanching,  there  was  none  braver  or  more 
44 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

efficient  than  William  Scott,  of  Company 
K,  debtor  for  his  own  life  to  President  Lin 
coln.  He  was  almost  the  first  to  reach  the 
south  bank  of  the  rivert  the  first  in  the 
rifle-pits,  and  the  last  to  retreat.  He  re- 
crossed  the  river  with  a  wounded  officer 
on  his  back — he  carried  him  to  a  place  of 
safety,  and  returned  to  assist  his  comrades, 
who  did  not  agree  on  the  number  of  wound 
ed  men  saved  by  him  from  drowning  or 
capture,  but  all  agreed  that  he  had  carried 
the  last  wounded  man  from  the  south  bank, 
and  was  nearly  across  the  stream,  when  the 
fire  of  the  rebels  was  concentrated  upon 
him;  he  staggered  with  his  living  burden  to 
the  shore  and  fell* 

An  account  of  the  closing  scene  in  the  life 
of  William  Scott  was  given  me  by  a  wounded 
comrade,  as  he  lay  upon  his  cot  in  a  hospital 
tent  near  Columbia  College,  in  Washington, 
after  the  retreat  of  the  army  from  the 
45 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

Peninsula.  "  He  was  shot  all  to  pieces/' 
said  private  H*  "  "We  carried  him  back, 
out  of  the  line  of  fire,  and  laid  him  on  the 
grass  to  die*  His  body  was  shot  through 
and  through,  and  the  blood  was  pouring 
from  his  many  wounds*  But  his  strength 
was  great,  and  such  a  powerful  man  was 
hard  to  kill*  The  surgeons  checked  the 
flow  of  blood — they  said  he  had  rallied  from 
the  shock;  we  laid  him  on  a  cot  in  a  hospital 
tent,  and  the  boys  crowded  around  him, 
until  the  doctors  said  they  must  leave  if  he 
was  to  have  any  chance  at  all*  We  all  knew 
he  must  die*  We  dropped  onto  the  ground 
wherever  we  could,  and  fell  into  a  broken 
slumber — wounded  and  well  side  by  side. 
Just  at  daylight  the  word  was  passed  that 
Scott  wanted  to  see  us  all*  We  went  into 
his  tent  and  stood  around  his  cot*  His  face 
was  bright  and  his  voice  cheerful.  4  Boys/ 
he  said,  *  I  shall  never  see  another  battle* 
46 


LINCOLN    IN     1865 
From  a  photograph  by  Rice 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

I  supposed  this  would  be  my  last.  I  haven't 
much  to  say*  You  all  know  what  you  can 
tell  them  at  home  about  me*  I  have  tried 
to  do  the  right  thing!  I  am  almost  certain 
you  will  all  say  that/  Then  while  his 
strength  was  failing,  his  life  ebbing  away, 
and  we  looked  to  see  his  voice  sink  into  a 
whisper*  his  face  lighted  up  and  his  voice 
came  out  natural  and  clear  as  he  said :  4  If 
any  of  you  ever  have  the  chance*  I  wish  you 
would  tell  President  Lincoln  that  I  have 
never  forgotten  the  kind  words  he  said  to 
me  at  the  Chain  Bridge;  that  I  have  tried 
to  be  a  good  soldier  and  true  to  the  flag; 
that  I  should  have  paid  my  whole  debt  to 
him  if  I  had  lived;  and  that  now*  when  I 
know  that  I  am  dying*  I  think  of  his  kind 
face  and  thank  him  again*  because  he  gave 
me  the  chance  to  fall  like  a  soldier  in  battle* 
and  not  like  a  coward  by  the  hands  of  my 
comrades*' 

47 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

"  His  face,  as  he  uttered  these  words,  was 
that  of  a  happy  man*  Not  a  groan  or  an 
expression  of  pain,  not  a  word  of  complaint 
or  regret,  came  from  his  lips*  *  Good-bye, 
boys!'  he  said,  cheerily.  Then  he  closed  his 
own  eyes,  crossed  his  hands  on  his  breast, 
and — and — that  was  all*  His  face  was  at 
rest,  and  we  all  said  it  was  beautiful*  Strong 
men  stood  around  his  bed;  they  had  seen 
their  comrades  fall,  and  had  been  very  near 
to  death  themselves:  such  men  are  accus 
tomed  to  control  their  feelings;  but  now 
they  wept  like  children*  One  only  spoke, 
as  if  to  himself:  4  Thank  God,  I  know  now 
how  a  brave  man  dies!' 

"  Scott  would  have  been  satisfied  to  rest 
in  the  same  grave  with  his  comrades/'  the 
wounded  soldier  continued*  "  But  we  want 
ed  to  know  where  he  lay.  There  was  a 
small  grove  of  cherry-trees  just  in  the  rear 
of  the  camp,  with  a  noble  oak  in  its  centre. 
48 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

At  the  foot  of  this  oak  we  dug  his  grave. 
There  we  laid  him,  with  his  empty  rifle  and 
accoutrements  by  his  side.  Deep  into  the 
oak  we  cut  the  initials, 4  W.S./  and  under  it 
the  words, '  A  brave  soldier/  Our  chaplain 
said  a  short  prayer*  We  fired  a  volley  over 
his  grave.  Will  you  carry  his  last  message 
to  the  President  ?" 
I  answered:  "  Yes." 


OME  days  passed  before  I  again 
met  the  President*  When  I  saw 
him  I  asked  if  he  remembered 
William  Scott* 

"  Of  Company  K,  Third  Ver 
mont  Volunteers?"  he  answered*  "  Cer 
tainly  I  do*  He  was  the  boy  that  Baldy 
Smith  wanted  to  shoot  at  the  Chain  Bridge* 
What  about  William  Scott  ?" 

44  He  is  dead*  He  was  killed  on  the 
Peninsula,"  I  answered*  "  I  have  a  message 
from  him  for  you*  which  I  have  promised 
one  of  his  comrades  to  deliver" 

A  look  of  tenderness  swept  over  his  face 
as  he  exclaimed:  "  Poor  boy!  Poor  boy! 

And  so  he  is  dead!    And  he  sent  me  a 
50 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

message!    Well,  I  think  I  will  not  have  it 
now*    I  will  come  and  see  you/' 

He  kept  his  promise*  Before  many  days 
he  made  one  of  his  welcome  visits  to  my 
office*  He  said  he  had  come  to  hear  Scott's 
message*  I  gave  it  as  nearly  as  possible  in 
Scott's  own  words*  Mr*  Lincoln  had  perfect 
control  of  his  own  countenance:  when  he 
chose,  he  could  make  it  a  blank;  when  he 
did  not  care  to  control  it*  his  was  the  most 
readable  of  speaking  human  faces*  He 
drew  out  from  me  all  I  knew  about  Scott 
and  about  the  people  among  whom  he  lived* 
When  I  spoke  of  the  intensity  of  their  sym 
pathies,  especially  in  sorrow  and  trouble,  as 
a  characteristic  trait  of  mountaineers,  he 
interrupted  me  and  said:  "  It  is  equally 
common  on  the  prairies.  It  is  the  privilege 
of  the  poor*  I  know  all  about  it  from  ex 
perience,  and  I  hope  I  have  my  full  share  of 

it*    Yes,  I  can  sympathize  with  sorrow*" 
5J 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

44  Mr.  President/'  I  said,  "  I  have  never 
ceased  to  reproach  myself  for  thrusting 
Scott's  case  so  unceremoniously  before  you 
— for  causing  you  to  take  so  much  trouble 
for  a  private  soldier*  But  I  gave  way  to  an 
impulse — I  could  not  endure  the  thought 
that  Scott  should  be  shot.  He  was  a  fel- 
low-Vermonter,  and  I  knew  there  was  no 
other  way  to  save  his  life." 

"  I  advise  you  always  to  yield  to  such 
impulses/'  he  said.  "  You  did  me  as  great 
a  favor  as  the  boy.  It  was  a  new  experience 
for  me — a  study  that  was  interesting,  though 
I  have  had  more  to  do  with  people  of  his 
class  than  any  other.  Did  you  know  that 
Scott  and  I  had  a  long  visit?  I  was  much 
interested  in  the  boy.  I  am  truly  sorry 
that  he  is  dead,  for  he  was  a  good  boy — too 
good  a  boy  to  be  shot  for  obeying  nature. 
I  am  glad  I  interfered/' 

44  Mr.  Lincoln,  I  wish  your  treatment  of 
52 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

this  matter  could  be  written  into  his 
tory/' 

44  Tut!  tot!"  he  broke  in;  "none  of  that* 
By-the-way,  do  you  remember  what  Jeanie 
Deans  said  to  Queen  Caroline  when  the 
Duke  of  Argyle  procured  her  an  opportu 
nity  to  beg  for  her  sister's  life?" 

44 1  remember  the  incident  well,  but  not 
the  language/' 

44 1  remember  both.  This  is  the  para 
graph  in  point:  4  It  is  not  when  we  sleep 
soft  and  wake  merrily  ourselves  that  we 
think  on  other  people's  sufferings*  Our 
hearts  are  waxed  light  within  us  then,  and 
we  are  for  righting  our  ain  wrangs  and 
fighting  our  ain  battles.  But  when  the 
hour  of  trouble  comes  to  the  mind  or  to  the 
body — and  when  the  hour  of  death  comes, 
that  comes  to  high  and  low — oh,  then  it 
isna  what  we  hae  dune  for  oursells,  but 
what  we  hae  dune  for  others,  that  we  think 
53 


Lincoln  and  the  Sleeping  Sentinel 

on  maist  pleasantly*  And  the  thoughts  that 
ye  hae  intervened  to  spare  the  puir  thing's 
life  will  be  sweeter  in  that  hour,  come  when 
it  may,  than  if  a  word  of  your  mouth  could 
hang  the  whole  Porteous  mob  at  the  tail  of 
ae  tow/" 


THE    END 


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